Clarksdale and family and friends, from far and wide, packed Clarksdale Methodist Church Monday to pay tribute to Ed Peacock.
Peacock, 77, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Jan. 31, 2025, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford after an extended illness
Peacock had left detailed instructions for his funeral with his choir, his friends and congregation singing his favorite hymns and family and his pastor speaking to his character.
His son-in-law Bryant Trotter donned a Rebel Red jacket, a favorite of Peacock’s, to the applause of those gathered as he began the eulogy.
Rev. Jason Franklin said Ed was known for ways, but also known for a true and sincere heart and a desire to help anybody any way he could.
“Ed and I were elected the same year,” said Coahoma County Supervisor Paul Pearson. “Ed was meticulous as Chancery Clerk and you ask any lawyer that ever walked into our courthouse, he was the best.”
Pearson said Peacock always did his homework, was always prepared at board meetings and his intellect and heart always helped steer Coahoma County in the right direction.
“The community will never know the work Ed Peacock did behind the scenes to help people with mentally ill family members,” Pearson added. “He was always ready to help the helpless. He also treated people the same: rich, poor, black, white, Ed Peacock always treated you with honesty and respect.”
High school classmate Mike Tyner talked about Peacocks intelligence and friendship.
“Ed and I have been friends for over fifty years,” said Tyner. “Even Though he graduated from high school a year ahead of me, we were only one month apart in age. A lot of people thought he graduated with us because he had so many friends in our class.
“Ed and I were fraternity brothers and he was in my wedding,” Tyner added. “We were in Rotary together for over 50 years and were in the Thursday morning breakfast club together for over 30 years which met at The Den, Rest Haven and now at Yazoo Pass. My wife was also a close friend of Ed's and after health issues sidelined him from golf he began playing bridge with her and several of her friends.”
Tyner told of a time when his wife was in the Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville and Ed drove up to be there.
“Ed came and spent the night and was there the next day for the surgery,” said Tyner. “He told me that he was very concerned for her and in case things did not work out he wanted to be there for me.
“That is the kind of person he was – always thinking of others, sending cards, visiting people at home and in the hospital and offering financial assistance to someone in need.
“My son, who is an attorney, commented to me on several occasions on how well run the Chancery Clerk's office was under Ed's leadership,” said Tyner. “It was of great benefit to all of the lawyers and citizens of Coahoma County. It is only fitting that Ed would be named "Citizen of the Year."
“He was a dear friend that will truly be missed,” said Tyner.
Peacock graduated from Ole Miss with a BBA in Banking and Finance in 1969. Ed was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity serving as the Secretary. He graduated from Ole Miss with a Juris Doctorate in 1972, served as President of the Senior Class, Treasurer of the Law School Student Body, and named Co-winner, Delta Theta Phi outstanding law student in the nation.
Upon completion of a tour of Korea as an Army Lieutenant and later Captain, Peacock joined the Bank of Clarksdale in September 1974 and ultimately served as President of the Clarksdale office for nine years.
Ed retired from banking to pursue politics. He served five terms as Chancery Clerk from January 1996 to January 2016. During Ed’s time as Chancery Clerk, he served as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President, and President (2007 – 2008) of the Mississippi Chancery Clerks' Association.
Throughout Ed’s life, he received numerous honors and awards. One of the honors that meant the most to him was receiving the Coahoma County Citizen of the Year Award in 2012. He also received the BPW Employer of the Year in 1991 and in 2007 he was honored as the Clarksdale Junior Auxiliary Patron of the Year.
Ed lived a full life of duty and service.
He served as the Past President for the Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce, Coahoma County Bar Association and the Clarksdale Rotary Club where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of NW Mississippi Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees for 17 years. He also served as a Region 1 Mental Health Board of Commissioners. He was a member of the Commission on Guardianships and Conservatorships, a statewide board appointed by the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Ed was a past Chairman of United Methodist Senior Services of Mississippi, Coahoma County Cancer Society, Coahoma County March of Dimes, Census 2000 Committee and Adopt-A-School, in which he helped to fundraise over $125,000. He was the past Commander at the American Legion Post 28 and a member of VFW.
Ed volunteered for fifteen years at the Care Station. He was presently serving as President of Coahoma County Industrial Foundation, Commissioner for Region 6 Mental Health, member of the Carnegie Public Library Board and would have been a 50-year Rotarian in September.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ann Christopher Peacock; two daughters Ann Christopher Trotter (Bryant) of Hernando and Virginia Peacock Douglas of Clarksdale; and a sister Robbie Peacock Carmichael of Madison.
He was preceded in death by his son, Edward Peebles Peacock IV; his parents Ann Williams Peacock and Edward Peebles Peacock, Jr. and granddaughter, Elizabeth Recil “Reece” Douglas.
A complete obituary can be found on Page 3 of the Feb. 6, 2025 Clarksdale Press Register.
